Shloka 6
अश्वमेध-उपदेशः तथा मरुत्त-यज्ञ-धन-प्रसङ्गः
Counsel on Aśvamedha and the Marutta-treasure episode
असुराश्च सुराश्चैव पुण्यहेतोर्मखक्रियाम् । प्रयतन्ते महात्मानस्तस्माद् यज्ञा: परायणम्,महामना देवता और दैत्य पुण्यके लिये यज्ञ करनेका ही प्रयत्न करते हैं, अत: यज्ञ परम आश्रय है
asurāś ca surāś caiva puṇya-hetor makha-kriyām | prayatante mahātmānas tasmād yajñāḥ parāyaṇam ||
Vyāsa berkata: “Demi memperoleh kebajikan (puṇya), para Deva dan Asura sama-sama berusaha menunaikan upacara yajña. Karena itu yajña dinyatakan sebagai sandaran tertinggi, perlindungan yang paling utama.”
व्यास उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse teaches that yajña (sacrificial/ritual action) is a paramount spiritual recourse because even opposing cosmic factions—Devas and Asuras—pursue it to gain puṇya (merit). It highlights the ethical idea that disciplined sacred action is a recognized means to auspicious results and the maintenance of order.
Vyāsa is making a doctrinal observation within the Ashvamedhika context: he underscores the universal drive toward ritual merit by noting that both gods and their adversaries exert themselves in sacrificial performances, concluding that yajña stands as the highest reliance.